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As a retired school principal, Doris Boettger knows children can also be passionate about the environment.

In her new book, the Stoney Creek resident combines her love for the nature and children’s literacy into an engaging tale aimed toward youngsters in grades 3 to 6.

After noticing few children’s books were addressing the topic, Boettger decided to delve into a series aimed at promoting environmental stewardship among young people.

“If we’re going to make a change in the environment, then we have to engage kids from the very beginning,” said Boettger. “Because they’re the future.”

“Simona’s Amazing Earth-Changing Lemonade,” now available on Amazon, is the first book in the series.

The book tells the story of a young girl driven to act after noticing an abundance of plastic waste in her home and school community.

Simona overcomes her resistance to speak up while advocating for paper straws instead of plastic in a café and devises a plan to reduce plastic waste in her classroom.

“She knows she wants to speak up about the plastic she sees in the environment, and she develops that strategy that she can use to overcome and change her ‘I can’t do this’ into ‘I can and I’m going to do it,’” Boettger explained.

The series, dubbed “Rock Talk” is inspired by Boettger’s granddaughter Emma J. Fraser, who is credited as a co-author.

With extra spare time during pandemic lockdowns, Boettger started working on seven children’s books, initially using rhyming lyrical verses. But after finding the literary format restrictive, she turned to an online course and found her voice writing in prose.

Boettger said the series aims to inspire the next generation to become caretakers of the Earth, also known as the rock.

“Emma was my motivation,” said Boettger. “As a young teen, she had to have a pair of green pants she wore until they wore out. That was the original spark.”

The series emphasizes the importance of the three Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle), including the aptly named tale, “Emma’s Green Pants.”

While Boettger did most of the writing, Emma, who is pursuing post-secondary education in the fall, helped with the storyline and creative elements.

Along with overcoming a hesitation to speak out, the main character of “Simona’s Amazing Earth-Changing Lemonade” also aims to show young people how small actions can lead to positive change.

“Children at that age often are the spark for change in the school setting and hopefully, in the world in general,” said Boettger.

The next book in the series, “Teagan and the Red Lobster,” tells the story of a young girl who takes on the challenge of finding a reused gift item.

Boettger calls her stories “realistic fiction.”

“I want any child who reads the books to be able to put themselves into the story and to say, ‘That’s believable and I could do that,’” she said.

Altogether there are seven young characters featured in Boettger’s series, including characters inspired by six of her nine grandchildren.

Boettger self-published “Simona’s Amazing Earth-Changing Lemonade” earlier this year and is planning to release her additional titles in the series over the coming months.

Her first book is available on Amazon and from publisher WestBow Press. See dorisboettger.com for more details.

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